Body conforming particle bed

ABSTRACT

A system to support a human body is disclosed which includes a case comprising, a top layer having a top surface and a bottom surface and a bottom layer having an inner top surface and an outer bottom surface, a plurality of particles filling the space between the top and bottom layers within the case, a fluid dispense system coupled to the case and adapted to move a working fluid between the plurality of particles, at least one pressure sensor coupled to the case and adapted to provide a signal corresponding to a load placed thereon, and a controller adapted to continually receive the signal from the at least one pressure sensor, actuate the fluid dispensing system for a predetermined amount of time, in response to a change in the signal from the at least one pressure sensor, and receive input from a user control panel.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to bodily support by bedding, and in particular, to a particle-filled chamber that actively conforms to the body.

BACKGROUND

This section introduces aspects that may help facilitate a better understanding of the disclosure. Accordingly, these statements are to be read in this light and are not to be understood as admissions about what is or is not prior art.

The disclosed invention deals with support provided by bedding. The market for mattresses is saturated with different levels of support and stiffness, depending on the preference of the consumer. While some mattresses do better at supporting than others, they do not completely conform to the body to provide maximum comfort and support.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,327,478 B2 by Faridoon is a patent for a fabric case for a bed or seat cushion that uses air passing through sand and salt particles to conform to the body. While this invention improves on standard mattress support, it has several limitations such as the salt getting dirty. Changing out the particles would be a messy and difficult process. Another limitation that is unaccounted for is when the user shifts positions while placed on the cushion. The patent also focuses on using this system to dispense medicine. U.S. Pat. No. 9,254,231 B2 by Vrzalik et al. uses a similar model of particles placed inside of the mattress as a spacer but not to conform to the body.

Therefore, there is an unmet need for a novel approach for a conforming particle bed that actively conforms to the body.

SUMMARY

A system to support a human body is disclosed. The system includes a case comprising, a top layer having a top surface and a bottom surface and a bottom layer having an inner top surface and an outer bottom surface. The system also includes a plurality of particles filling the space between the top and bottom layers within the case. Furthermore, the system includes a fluid dispense system coupled to the case and adapted to move a working fluid between the plurality of particles, at least one pressure sensor coupled to the case and adapted to provide a signal corresponding to a load placed thereon. The system further includes a controller. The controller is adapted to continually receive the signal from the at least one pressure sensor. The controller is further adapted to actuate the fluid dispensing system for a predetermined amount of time, in response to a change in the signal from the at least one pressure sensor. The controller is also adapted to receive input from a user control panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cutaway view of inside a case, showing a plurality of particles and fluid flow from a fluid dispense system to the plurality of particles inside the case.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the system, showing three pressure sensors coupled to a bottom layer of the case.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the system in a closed system configuration.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the system components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of this disclosure is thereby intended.

In the present disclosure, the term “about” can allow for a degree of variability in a value or range, for example, within 10%, within 5%, or within 1% of a stated value or of a stated limit of a range.

In the present disclosure, the term “substantially” can allow for a degree of variability in a value or range, for example, within 90%, within 95%, or within 99% of a stated value or of a stated limit of a range.

A novel way for mattress support when sleeping is to have particles agitated by a fluid so that they move to conform around the body. While this technology has been used in seat cushions and mattresses before, they are not actively changing to the movement of the body. Therefore, by adding sensors that detect a shift in pressure that then sends a signal to the pump re-agitates the particles to re-conform to the body in a new position.

A case or mattress will now be described in connec-tion with FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4. FIG. 1 shows the system as a whole. The case 10 has a top layer 12, a bottom layer 14, and is filled with a plurality of particles 20. The Fluid dispense system 30 includes a pump 32 that propels the working fluid through one or more outlet channels 34. The pump 32 has a preferred operating pressure between 1.6 cm/min and 2 cm/min. The one or more outlet channels 34 passes through a heat exchanger 38. The heat exchanger 38 setting is determined by a user input 52 for the desired temperature. It has both heating and cooling capabilities. The one or more outlet channels 34 also passes by a temperature sensor 54 that reads the temperature of the fluid and sends a signal to a controller that tells the heat exchanger what to do. The one or more outlet channels 34 is coupled to the case 10 and fluidly coupled to the plurality of particles 20. The one or more outlet channels 34 has holes pointed downward for fluid to exit the one or more outlet channels 34 into the case 10. The holes must be oriented at least slightly downward so that the particles do not fall in the holes and block the exit for the fluid to flow through the particles. Additionally, an ultraviolet source 56 is connected to the fluid dispense system 30. As shown in FIG. 1, it is recommended that the ultraviolet source is placed inside of the case 10 and coupled to the one or more outlet channels 34 to purify the fluid.

Also shown in FIG. 1 a case 10 has a top layer 12 as well as a bottom layer 14 having an inner or top surface and an outer or bottom surface. For an open system, the case can be made of a stretchable fabric made of textile threads and elastomer or rubber threads are woven together. The woven fabric is woven tight such that the particles remain completely enclosed within the case while being breathable so that the workable fluid being air can escape.

FIG. 2 shows at least one pressure sensor 40 coupled to the bottom layer 14 of the case 10. The one or more pressure sensors 40 are positioned under the case 10 such that a person resting on the case causes a pressure change that is then measured by the one or more pressure sensors 40. There can be one central pressure sensor or a network of pressure sensors that communicate weight shift.

FIG. 3 shows the system 10 in a closed system configuration. The case 12 can be made of a polymer. The polymer case should be impenetrable, where no particle or fluid can escape outside of the case, thus forming a closed system. There are one or more inlet channels 36 that are connected back to the pump 32 for recirculation of the fluid. The one or more inlet channels 36 are also fluidly coupled to the inside of the case 12. The connections between the one or more inlet channels 34 and components of the fluid dispense system 30 should be sealed where no fluid can escape. Some sort of screen may be placed over the inlet channel 36 inside of the case to prevent particles from entering the fluid dispense system 30.

FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram of the steps of the system. The one or more pressure sensors 40 sense a change in pressure and sends a signal to the controller 50 to turn on the fluid dispense system 30. This causes the system to re-conform to the body, beneficial to someone that may roll over in their sleep. When the signal is sent from the one or more pressure sensors 40 to the controller 50 to turn on the fluid dispense system 30, the pump 32 turns on for a specified amount of time determined by the user input 52. By only turning on for a specific amount of time, the pump saves energy by not running continuously. Integrated into the fluid dispense system 30 is the heat exchanger 38 where the fluid may be either heated or cooled. The fluid is then passed through a temperature sensor 54 where a feedback signal is relayed to the controller 50 where it is compared to that of the user input 52. The user input 52 can control the temperature of the heat exchanger 38 either by a numerical value chosen or level chosen on a predetermined temperature scale, for example, the user can choose cooling or heating and further choose a level between 1 through 5.

According to one embodiment, the plurality of particles include ceramic beads wherein each bead has a spherical, cylindrical, or any smooth shape that substantially has low friction between each particle wherein each bead has a diameter between 2 millimeters and 4 millimeters.

According to another embodiment, the plurality of particles include glass beads wherein each bead has a spherical, cylindrical, or any smooth shape that substantially has low friction between each particle wherein each bead has a diameter between 2 millimeters and 4 millimeters.

According to yet another embodiment, the plurality of particles include plastic beads wherein each bead has a spherical, cylindrical, or any smooth shape that substantially has low friction between each particle wherein each bead has a diameter between 2 millimeters and 4 millimeters.

According to still yet another embodiment, the plurality of particles include cleaned and filtered sand wherein each sand particle of sand has a diameter between 0.5 millimeters and 2 millimeters.

According to still yet another embodiment, the plurality of particles include salt wherein each particle of salt has a spherical, cylindrical, or any smooth shape that substantially has low friction between each particle wherein each particle of salt has a diameter between 2 millimeters and 4 millimeters. Salt may be used because it will prevent bacteria from growing inside of the case.

According to still yet another embodiment, the plurality of particles include dried beans.

According to still yet another embodiment, the plurality of particles discussed herein is selected from the group consisting of ceramic beads, glass beads, plastic beads, cleaned and filtered sand, salt, dried beans, or a combination thereof.

In one embodiment, salt, rice, beans, or a combination thereof are used as the plurality of particles in the closed system with the polymer case. The closed system avoids clumping of particles if the particles in the closed system. Thus avoiding the aforementioned particles in the open system prevents the particles from becoming wet, thus avoiding growth of bacteria forming inside of the case, causing an odor or a health threat.

According to one embodiment, the fluid discussed herein is selected from the group consisting of air, nitrogen, argon, helium, CO₂, or a combination thereof.

Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that numerous modifications can be made to the specific implementations described above. The implementations should not be limited to the particular limitations described. Other implementations may be possible. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system to support a human body, comprising: a case comprising, a top layer having a top surface and a bottom surface and a bottom layer having an inner top surface and an outer bottom surface; a plurality of particles filling the space between the top and bottom layers within the case, a fluid dispense system coupled to the case and adapted to move a working fluid between the plurality of particles, at least one pressure sensor coupled to the case and adapted to provide a signal corresponding to a load placed thereon, and a controller adapted to continually receive the signal from the at least one pressure sensor, actuate the fluid dispensing system for a predetermined amount of time, in response to a change in the signal from the at least one pressure sensor, and receive input from a user control panel.
 2. The plurality of particles of claim 1, wherein the plurality of particles are selected from the group consisting of ceramic beads, glass beads, polymer beads, sand, salt, rice, beans, or a combination thereof.
 3. The system to support a human body from claim 1, wherein the case material is a polymer or a fabric.
 4. The system to support a human body from claim 1, wherein the fluid dispense system comprises a pump and one or more channels in fluid communication between the pump and the plurality of particles.
 5. The fluid dispense system of claim 4, wherein the channels are adapted to recirculate the fluid in a closed system.
 6. The fluid dispense system of claim 4, wherein the channels are adapted to release the fluid in an open system.
 7. The fluid dispense system of claim 4, wherein the fluid dispense system further comprises a heat exchanger and a temperature sensor.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the heat exchanger includes a plurality of tubes with a coolant fluid disposed therein and wherein the coolant fluid is (i) heated, or (ii) cooled.
 9. The system of claim 7, the controller further configured to receive temperature data from the temperature sensor and in response thereto activate the heat exchanger to (i) heat, or (ii) cool the working fluid.
 10. The system to support a human body of claim 1, further comprising an ultraviolet (UV) source coupled to the case.
 11. The system to support a human body of claim 10, the UV source is disposed in the case.
 12. The system to support a human body of claim 10, the UV source is coupled to the fluid dispense system.
 13. The system to support a human body of claim 12, the UV source is coupled to the outlet of the fluid dispense system. 